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Three months ago, if someone had told me I’d spend my first job out of college being interviewed by a Russian news channel in Manhattan, I’d probably think they were confusing me with somebody else. But now, as a local hire supporting Hurricane Sandy recovery in New York, I’m fully engaged with media and spreading information about disaster assistance.CAPTION: Samantha Shokin being interviewed by Russian Television International at the Sheepshead Bay disaster recovery center.When Sandy struck Brighton Beach, New York’s Russian enclave where I live with my family, it felt like fate was...

At the end of each week, we post a "What We’re Watching" blog as we look ahead to the weekend and recap events from the week. We encourage you to share it with your friends and family, and have a safe weekend.Flood Safety Awareness WeekNext week, we’re teaming up with NOAA to bring you National Flood Safety Awareness Week. Floods are one of the most common hazards in the U.S., and while spring brings the promise of warm weather and longer days, it also brings a variety of threatening conditions like heavy rain, flash flooding, and rapid snowmelt (for those of us who received any) that can...

At the end of each week, we post a "What We’re Watching" blog as we look ahead to the weekend and recap events from the week. We encourage you to share it with your friends and family, and have a safe weekend.Severe weather safety from all angles Our blog and social media sites have been brimming with severe weather safety tips, stories, and reminders this week as part of National Severe Weather Preparedness Week. Guest bloggers took over our blog all week long, offering their perspectives on how people can be a force of nature in their community and share severe weather safety. ...

In the past two years, the Greater Philadelphia region has seen its share of major severe weather disasters. From severe storms to two hurricanes, the sight of wind-damaged homes, floating cars, and people spending time in neighborhood shelters has become a sadly familiar sight.We also know that while we can’t always control when and how Mother Nature will strike our area, we know we can take active steps to prepare for disasters. At the Deaf-Hearing Communication Centre (DHCC), we also recognize that we have a role in making sure we’re keeping the community we serve informed as...

Early last April, North Texas was hit by severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. One line of storm cells with tornadoes caused severe damage across at least four counties. In Lancaster, in southern Dallas County, more than 300 homes were damaged by the tornadoes. Local resources were quickly overwhelmed. Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) from the North Central Texas Region responded to the call for additional help.Rowlett sent a team that consisted of both CERT volunteers and youth members of Rowlett Explorer Post One (Post One includes members of a youth program chartered through...

As the production manager for world-renowned rock band Linkin Park (LP), risk mitigation is at the top of the priority list. Linkin Park are at the forefront of finding and creating better solutions to ensure the safety of all those in and around their performances. Severe weather is more common than most realize. That is why we have a solution for outdoor event weather monitoring by accredited meteorologists who advise us through predictive forecasting technologies at all of our outdoor events. Weather Decision Technologies (WDT), located next to NOAA’s severe weather...

When the majority of your entire 30+ year career stretches between Georgia and Texas, you unfortunately see a lot of damage, destruction and death from severe weather. You see so much of it that it can become numbing, humbling and saddening.Still, nothing prepared me and National Weather Service (NWS) Birmingham for the events of April, 2011 and the weeks that followed. The story actually begins on April 15, 2011, when 45 tornadoes occurred across Alabama along with 7 fatalities. As a state, we all were still recovering when we realized a major and devastating outbreak of...

Along with the advantages of witnessing the changing of New England’s beautiful seasons, residents must be ready to face a variety of severe weather conditions. My name is Rachel Little, a member of the FEMA Youth Preparedness Council, and a resident of Massachusetts. My favorite part of living in New England is the variety of activities to do like skiing and snowboarding in the winter, swimming and visiting the beach in the summer and all within just a couple hours of where I live. While I love to enjoy the great outdoors, nor’easters, blizzards, tornadoes, hurricanes and flash...

When it comes to severe weather, you never know when a thunderstorm may spawn into a deadly, destructive tornado. Considering Walmart serves more than 140 million customers in more than 4,000 U.S. locations on a weekly basis, it’s safe to say we’ve seen our fair share of bad weather.Because of our size and scale, we cover a lot of territory and ride out a lot of storms with our fellow Americans. When there’s a weather warning, there’s usually a Walmart or Sam’s Club not too far in the distance. That’s why it’s extremely critical for us to ensure our stores and club associates know what to do...

With just a flicker of a match, a cigarette butt, or a lightning strike in the high country, fire takes its toll fast and with no regard for those in its path.These statistics, from last year alone, show how wildfires have a significant impact across the country:11 firefighters lost their lives67,774 wildfires burned 9.3 million acres - that’s the second highest amount of acres burned over the last 10 years4,244 structures were destroyed, including 2,216 residences - well above the “average” yearAs weather becomes more extreme across the nation, so does the threat of fire.Fire seasons...

FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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